[mimentum]

There are contractual agreements in place to use certain designs over a given period of time.

Therefore, Sony can invest and Nikon can benefit from Sony's products. It is a bit of a win-win situation. Otherwise, Nikon would be force to use another supplier's sensors (as they do and have done already in the past). Nikon don't have the capability to produce large scale sensors for their cosumer imaging devices at the present time and likely won't for the foreseeable future.